The Sovima Village Council has resolved to implement the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) of 2003 and penalise shops found violating its provisions by selling tobacco products near school premises within the village’s jurisdiction.

The Council has also warned that the trade licences would be cancelled for shops selling cigarettes and other tobacco products such as Gutka, Talab, Shikar, Rajnigandha etc in close proximity of educational institutions in the village.

Further, the Sovima Village Council has reminded that it will also strictly implement its earlier resolution to expel from the village any person found selling intoxicants/psychotropic substances within the jurisdiction of the village and the property from where the sale of these banned substances had been found, shall be seized by the Council.

The Council stated that regular checking would be conducted by youth volunteers accompanied by GBs/VCMs to implement these resolutions and necessary actions shall be taken on the spot against defaulters.